A Connecticut Party Considering Presidential Nomination

A Connecticut Party, the independent party formed for Lowell P. Weicker Jr.'s gubernatorial bid in 1990, has scheduled a presidential nominating convention, of sorts, for September.

But that does not mean that the small party with the potential for big ballot power will endorse a presidential candidate on its top ballot line in the November election.

"There's at least as much chance that there will not be an endorsement as there is that there will be an endorsement," said Peter W. Gold, honorary chairman of the 1,500member party.

Endorsement by A Connecticut Party, despite its size, has become a hot commodity in some state and local races this year; with the party's blessing, Republicans and Democrats whose names already appear on their own parties' ballot lines will also appear on A Connecticut Party's top line.

A Connecticut Party won the top line because Weicker finished first in the race for governor.

The party already has endorsed a slate of congressional and state legislative candidates, most of whom also are running on the Democratic line. U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, who is seeking a third term, is the highest-ranking candidate endorsed by A Connecticut Party so far.

Although party rules allow A Connecticut Party to endorse a presidential candidate, party officials struggled with the political implications of doing so. Finally, leaders decided to throw the question open to party members.

Until Sept. 7, the party will gather nominations for slates of Electoral College members pledged to various candidates. A slate backing the Democratic ticket of Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee, and another backing Republican President George Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle are almost certain to be on the ballot. Electors for non-candidate H. Ross Perot also may be represented.

But the party's presidential nominating convention will not be a confetti and speech-filled event in a large auditorium.

Rather, beginning Sept. 8, registered party members will be asked to go to the party's Farmington headquarters and vote for a presidential slate. But they may also vote for "None of the above."

Voting will continue for three days.

Choosing a presidential slate will be tricky for A Connecticut Party, which so far has allied itself mostly with progressive Democrats who supported Weicker's state income tax.

Progressive Democrats certainly would be dismayed if they had to share a ballot line with Bush and Quayle.

But putting Clinton and Gore on A Connectiuct Party's line could hurt moderate Democrats whose names appear only on that party's third ballot line in the following way:

If Clinton's name were on the top line, the argument goes, Democrats might pull the levers for the Democratic candidates on the top line and then walk out of the booth, overlooking Democratic legislative candidates running only on the party's line.

That scenario might work to the advantage of Republican legislative candidates -- something Weicker would want to avoid at all cost. Republican State Chairman Richard Foley was Weicker's most vociferous critic during the income-tax debate.